Plant support



J. DAL MAso PLANT SUPPORT Dec. 17, 1929.

Filed July 17. 1928 Jasepfi pal Maw Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT cl rics JOSEPH. DAL MASO, F WASHING'rTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PLANT SUPPORT Application filed July 17,

This invention relates to a plant support and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which may be conveniently applied to holding element and which support is of character to permit its use in connection with potted plants.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having associated therewith means which operate efliciently as a drip pan and which means is especially adapted for use when the support is employed indoors. I

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved plant support whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereii'iafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein z- Figure 1 is a View in top plan with portions broken away of a support constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, the enacting retaining member being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the device as illustrated in Figure 1, the coacting flower pot being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1;

l igure t is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the separated relation of the arms of the support to facilitate its application to or removal from a retaining member.

As herein disclosed, my improved support comprises a split annular member 1 of requisite dimensions and as herein embodied formed from a single length of strap metal. The free extremities of the member 1 are closely adjacent to each other and are continued by the outstanding arms 2 and 3 which normally are substantially disposed in parallelism as illustrated in Figure 1 and which,

1928. Serial No. 293,330.

furthermore, are substantially radial with respect to the axial center of the member 1.

The-arms 2 and 3 are of desired length and the outer end of the arm 2 is provided with the laterally directed arm 4 substantially at right angles to the arm 2. The arm a is continued by an inwardly disposed arm 5 substantially at rightangles to the arm 4t.

, The outer end of the arm 3 is continued by a'laterally disposed arm 6 extending in a direction reverse to the arnrl or in a direction toward the arm2. Normally the arm 4 overlies the arm 6 and is in close contact therewith while the arm 5 is disposed outwardly of the arm 3 and in close contact therewith as particularly illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

The arm 2at a. desired point inwardly of its outer end is provided with a slot 7 while the overlying arms 3 and 5 are provided with the slots 8 registering one wit-h the other. A wedge N of a cotter pin type is insertible through the slots 7 and 8 after the arms 2 and 3 have been properly engaged with their retaining member R, such as one of the vertical rails of a banister structure or any desired element with which my improved support may be conveniently employed.

To apply the support to a retaining member R, the arms 2 and 3 are first sprung to free the arms 4L and 6' from between the arms 2 and 5 whereupon said arms 2 and 3 are laterally "separated as illustrated in Figure 4 a distance sufficient to permit said arms 2 and3 to be readily passed beyond opposite sides of the member R. The arms 2 and 3 are then further adjusted in a direction at right angles to the direction of separation illustrated in Figure 4 to permit the arms 3 and 6 to be received between the arms 2 and 5. After this application the arms 2 and 3 are substantially in close contact with the retaining member R with the arm 6 in close contact with the rear face of the member R. The wedge is then inserted through the openings 7 and 8 with an edge thereof contacting with the front face of the member R- and the opposite edge having contact with the ends of tge slots 7 and 8 remote from the member As the wedge W is forced inwardly the arm 6 will be brought and maintained in close contact with the retaining member R and in a manner whereby the support is capable of effectively holding the load applied thereto, such as a potted plant.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 2, it is to be observed that the applied wedge W is substantially midway of the upper and lower margins of the arms 2 and 3 and this arrangement inpractice is of particular advantage in assuring proper engagement of the applied arms 2 and 3 With a retaining member R to assure the support possessing requisite efficiency. If desired, the potted plant or the like of requisite size may be applied from above through the annular member 1 and effectively held thereby. This arrangement can be employed to advantage outdoors. However, to facilitate the use of the support in connection with potted plants or the like of varying sizes, I find it ofadvantage to employ, a pan P having at its periphery plurality of' circumferentially spaced upstanding arms 9, the upper or free extremities of which terminate in outwardly disposed and downwardly facing hook'members 10. The hook members 10 are insertible through the member 1 from below whereupon the inherent resiliency of the arms 9 will cause said arms to spring outwardly so that the hook members 10 may be engaged over the upper portion of the member 1 as particularly illus trated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

By use of the pan P potted plants or the like may be rested directly thereon thus per mitting the support to be conveniently employed with potted plants or the like of varying sizes less than the normal internal diameter of the member 1.

Furthermore the pan P is especially adapted for use when the support is employed indoors as said pan P will serve to collect and retain such moisture as may dripfrom the potted plant positioned upon the pan or held directly by the member 1.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a plant support constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it i may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A support forpotted plants comprising a split annular member, the extremities of said member being continued by outstanding and normally substantially parallel arms, one of said arms being provided with a laterally disposed arm continued by an inwardly directed arm, said inwardly directed arm overlying the second of the first named arms, and a wedge member insertible through said overlying arms and the first named arms.

2. A support for potted plants comprising an annular member, attaching means carried thereby, a pan adapted to be supported below the annular member, upstanding arms carried by the pan and terminating in downwardly facing hook members, said hook members being engageable from above with the annular member.

3. A support for potted plants comprising an annular member, attaching means carried thereby, a pan adapted to be supported below the annular member, upstanding arms car ried by the pan and terminating in downwardly facing hook members, said hook members being engageable from above with the annular member, said hook members being outwardly disposed with respect to the arms and insertible from below through the annular member before engaging the annular member. V

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH DAL MASO. 

